pimpernel — (n.) c.1400, from O.Fr. pimprenelle, earlier piprenelle (12c.), from M.L. pipinella a medicinal plant, perhaps from *piperinus pepper like (so called because its fruits resemble peppercorns), a derivative of L. piper pepper (see PEPPER (Cf.… … Etymology dictionary
pimpernel — [pim′pər nel΄, pim′pərnəl] n. [ME pympernelle < OFr piprenelle < LL pimpinella, an herb with medicinal uses, prob. altered < * piperinella, ult. < L piper,PEPPER: its fruit resembles small peppercorns] any of a genus (Anagallis) of… … English World dictionary
pimpernel — /pim peuhr nel , nl/, n. a plant belonging to the genus Anagallis, of the primrose family, esp. A. arvensis (scarlet pimpernel), having scarlet or white flowers that close at the approach of bad weather. [1400 50; late ME pympernele < MF… … Universalium
pimpernel — UK [ˈpɪmpə(r)nel] / US [ˈpɪmpərˌnel] noun [countable] Word forms pimpernel : singular pimpernel plural pimpernels a small wild plant with red flowers … English dictionary
pimpernel — noun Etymology: Middle English pimpernele, from Anglo French, from Late Latin pimpinella, a medicinal herb Date: 14th century any of a genus (Anagallis) of herbs of the primrose family; especially scarlet pimpernel … New Collegiate Dictionary
pimpernel — noun a) Any of various plants, of the genus Anagallis, having small red, white or purple flowers; especially the scarlet pimpernel, Anagallis arvensis. Lined up solidly with the Pimpernels and with the persecuted. Hal Lehrman b) A gallant dashing … Wiktionary
pimpernel — [15] The burnet, a plant of the rose family, has fruit that look like peppercorns. It was therefore termed in Vulgar Latin *piperīnella, a derivative of *piperīnus ‘pepperlike’, which in turn was based on Latin piper ‘pepper’ (source of English… … The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins
pimpernel — [[t]pɪ̱mpə(r)nel[/t]] pimpernels N VAR A pimpernel is a small wild plant that usually has red flowers … English dictionary
pimpernel — [ pɪmpənɛl] noun a low growing plant with bright five petalled flowers. [Anagallis arvensis (scarlet pimpernel) and other species.] Origin ME: from OFr. pimpernelle, based on L. piper pepper … English new terms dictionary
pimpernel — pim•per•nel [[t]ˈpɪm pərˌnɛl, nl[/t]] n. pln any plant belonging to the genus Anagallis, of the primrose family, esp. A. arvensis scarlet pimpernel , having scarlet or white flowers that close in bad weather. • Etymology: 1400–50; late ME… … From formal English to slang
